Sukhbir Badal Vs CM Mann

SAD president Sukhbir Badal sends a legal notice to the CM

The Rising Panjab Bureau

In the latest political diatribe in Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has sent a legal notice to chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann who is alleged to have made malicious comments and statements to deliberately defame the Badal family during the much-hyped debate on issues concerning Punjab on November 1 held in Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana.  In the debate, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann had alleged the senior Badal for compromising the state’s river water interests for personal gains.

Responding to the CM’s accusation, Sukhbir Badal has now clarified that it was a private canal that was dug to provide water to irrigate his family’s land in Balsar village of Haryana.  The notice issued also mentioned that the CM had resorted to damaging the reputation of the family by making unsubstantiated allegations about their transport business.

It may be recalled that CM Bhagwant Mann had invited leaders of opposition parties including SAD’s Sukhbir Singh Badal, Leader of Opposition and Congress Party Leader Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress Party’s state president Raja Warring, and BJP’s state president Sunil Jakhar to participate in the debate on all issues concerning Punjab.  However, the opposition leaders chose to stay away from the debate even though empty chairs with these leaders were kept on the stage.  

Political parties are meant to play politics but more than frequent attacks and counterattacks of politicians in the state of Punjab is unfortunate as it does not serve to protect the interests of the people of the state.  Given that Punjab has been facing several complex and tricky issues at the moment including that of SYL, it is desirable that all political parties are on the same page for the sake of the state.  That is completely missing at least for now.